MISCELLANEOUS.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 6384, 27 November 1890, Page 3

MISCELLANEOUS.

Glasgow now has a eyclorama of Jerusalem on the day of the Crucifixion, The painting is after the well-known picture by Bruno Piglheim. It represents the Holy City as it was rebuilt by Herod the Great, with its temples and palaces, walls and towers and gates j and Golgotha, the mountains of Moab East of the Dead Bea, Mizpah, Mount Zion, Mount Moriah, the Mount of Olives, and the Hill of Evil Counsel are all produced with striking detail.

The “ Iron Gates of the Danube ” are world-famous. They consist of enormous masses of rock which form very dangerous rapids at that point of the river where the Hungarian, Roumanian, and Servian frontiers face each other. Seventeen centuries ago, the Boman Emperor, Trajan, commenced works for the removal of this obstruction, which hinders the navigation of the river so greatly. Trajan intended to construct a large canal, so as to avoid the “ gates,” and traces of his uncompleted work are still to be seen- In modern times there have been two rival schemes. The French have proposed to make locks. English and American engineers have contemplated blasting the minor rocks, and cutting canals tnd erecting dams where the rocks are too crowded. This latter plan has, in principle, been adopted, and the works were inauguarated lately. M Baron, the Hungarian Minister of Commerce, firing the first charge by means of electricity. It will bo left for a later period to make the canal wider and and deeper. At first only moderate-sized steamers will be able to pass through without hindrance. The next (the seventh) Intercolonial Congress of hygiene and demography will be held in London some time next year, this being the first held in Great Brition. A circular has been received by the Government from Lord Knutsford inviting New Zealanders to send one or more representatives. The aim of the Congress is to awaken public interest in the progress of hygiene and demography, by which latter term is understood the study of .the life conditions of communities from a statistical point of vie w, to afford persons interested in these subjects an opportunity of meeting, with the object of advancing their progress, and, by conferences and debates, to elucidate questions relating to hygiene, demography, and public health. The Governments of all countries, municipalities, county councils, and other provincial administrations, public health authorities, universities, colleges, and all societies which are occupied in the study of the sciences more or lees immediately connected with hygiene, are invited to co-operate and appoint delegates to represent them at them at the Congress. An exhibition of articles of hygienic interest will be held in connection with tho Congress.